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The CW Picks up Six New Series, Cancels ‘Hellcats’

In: witches, twins and doctors. Out: cheerleaders. As the CW finalize its schedule for the 2011-2012 season, it has officially picked up three new dramas, “Secret Circle,” “Ringer,” and “Hart of Dixie,” and three reality show s:”H8er,” “Frames,” and “Re-modeled.” Fans of “Nikita” and the show that refuses to die, “One Tree Hill,” can breathe easier. The network has picked up the two series. They join the already renewed “Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,” “90210” and “Supernatural.” “Hellcats” has been canceled.

The new shows continue the network’s efforts to expand its audience to include twenty and thirty-something women as well as teenagers, with projects focusing on the lives of young women. In a strategy that has proven successful for the CW’s chief rival, ABC Family, two of the shows feature former teen stars as their leads. “Ringer” stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, who will always be known as Buffy. “Hart of Dixie” stars “The O.C.’s” Rachel Bilson. The CW is also continuing to focus on what has become its greatest strength, supernatural dramas. “Secret Circle” is about a coven of teen witches. Kevin Williamson, executive producer of “The Vampire Diaries” will be the showrunner. Here is the rundown on all of the new shows.

+ “Secret Circle” is, like “Vampire Diaries” based on a series of novels by L.J. Smith. It tells the story of Cassie (Britt Robertson,”Life Unexpected“) who moves to New Salem, Maine after her mother dies under mysterious circumstances and discovers that she is a witch. Her presence reignites a centuries old battle between good and evil. The cast also includes Thomas Dekker (“Sarah Connor Chronicles“) and Shelley Hennig (“Days of Our Lives“).

+ “Ringer” stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Bridget, a woman on the run from the mob. She impersonates her twin sister Siobahn only to discover that there is a bounty out on Siobahn’s life. The project was originally developed for CBS, but was deemed a better fit for the youthful CW. The series also stars Kristoffer Polaha (“Life Unexpected“) and Nestor Carbonell (“Lost“).

+ “Hart of Dixie” stars Rachel Bilson as a doctor from New York City who inherits a medical practice in a small Southern town populated by eccentrics. The project reunites Bilson with the creator of “The O.C.,” Josh Schwartz, who is executive producing. The show is described as similar to “Everwood” in tone. “Hart of Dixie” also stars Scott Porter (“Friday Night Lights“) and Cress Williams (“Prison Break“).

+ “H8er” is a reality project in which celebrities spend a day with the ordinary person who professes to hate them the most. Mario Lopez hosts. The show is considered a good companion for “America’s Next Top Model.”

+ “Frames” is essentially “Big Brother” with roommates. Ten teams of two people each live in a single room for eight weeks under 24 hours surveillance. They will compete in challenges. Viewers will decide who should be eliminatd.

+ “Re-Modeled” chronicles modeling agent Paul Fisher as he unites small town modeling agencies in a venture called The Network that aims to give all models the same opportunities as those that live in big cities.